Feds Propose New Rules for Voting to Unionize

The National Labor Relations Board has proposed new rules designed to speed up votes on whether to unionize. The move is a plus for unions who have claimed delays in elections benefit employers who can mount antiunion campaigns, The New York Times reports.

The NLRB reported that the average time between filing for an election and the secret ballot actually being held is 57 days. The board said the new rules are “intended to reduce unnecessary litigation, streamline pre- and postelection procedures and facilitate the use of electronic communications and document filing,” the Times reports.

The public will have 75 days to comment on the new rules, which can then be revised. The United States Chamber of Commerce said the rules represent “another, not-so-cleverly-disguised effort to restrict the ability of employers to express their views during an election campaign, to inform employees of the pros and cons of unionization,” the Times reported.